New projects aim to use sport and education to inspire and motivate young people in Hemel Hempstead

A new non-profit CIC has launched two new projects in Hemel Hempstead which aim to use sport, physical activity and education to inspire, protect and motivate young people.

Harry Oriordan set up ProFormance Pathways to give young people the chance to create opportunities within the sporting industry, whether that is playing or working.

ProFormance Pathways is a non-profit community interest company whose aim is to positively effect children and young people across London and the home counties, using sport, education and mentoring projects to inspire, protect and motivate.

Harry, who has worked within grassroots football at elite and amateur levels for the past 10 years across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and London, said: "Having worked in sports as a football coach firstly from the age of 15 I have seen first-hand the positive effect that it can have on young people who participate in organised grass roots sport.

"I have first-hand experience of working in both grassroots and elite sport across the UK, I am 100 per cent focused on delivering a programme which offers the very highest standard of coaching, safeguarding and opportunity to all young people who play sports.

"Having been involved in the launch and running of my own business within the sports industry I have also been able to experience the great career opportunities and lifestyle that can come from working in sport.

"At ProFormance Pathways we are passionate about not only helping young people have a chance of playing a sport professionally but also either working within a different sector of sports or gaining transferable skills to any employment sector they wish to enter.

"I am to lead a network of individuals and organisations to provide all young people with opportunities within sport at all levels."

Together with ProFormance Global and Herts Sports Partnership, ProFormance Pathways was able to deliver sessions as part of the HAPpy scheme during the first week of the Easter school holidays.

This meant that children on free school meals within Dacorum were able to attend our football camp for four days, free of charge, they also received enrichment activities and a hot meal.

Harry added: "I’ve got to say it was such a fantastic week, the children who attended were amazing, we had over 60 children each day with 40 of these attending through the HAPpy scheme.

"They day was mainly filled with fun warm up games in the morning, followed by a healthy snack at break time.

"We would then play matches up until lunch where the children would go inside for a hot meal, this was provided by Hemel Hempstead FC and was very well prepared with lots of options for each child. After lunch would be tournaments before home time!

"During lunch players would also complete an enrichment activity which included languages and nutrition, on the last day all players received some Easter treats and a medal as well as some lucky players winning an award and trophy at our presentation.

"The feedback from players and parents was amazing and we cannot wait to be able to deliver this programme again in the future.

"The feedback from parents show how important that programmes like this can be, we know this programme is running again in the summer and at Christmas and we cannot wait to be involved again.

"We are also running a Sporting Chance programme in Hemel Hempstead which is where the police and other youth services refer young people to us to take part in free football sessions."

ProFormance Pathways are also working with Herts Sports Partnership and the Adventure Playground to deliver the Sporting Chance programme.

Sporting Chance is a sport-based programme aimed at young people on the cusp of the youth justice system.

With football, boxing and basketball highlighted as the most sports, they have created sessions throughout all 10 district areas in the county, working with schools, community centres, sports clubs and Educational Support Centres to ensure that the offer is comprehensive and can deliver to as many young people as possible.

The ProFormance Pathways Sporting Chance programme kicked off on April 13, and will be on Tuesday evenings 5pm till 7pm at Grovehill Adventure Playground.

For more information on this programme, email [email protected].